Category: Wine & Grapes

Sémillon is grape that stars in improbable marriages: with Sauvignon Blanc in classic blends made in France and Australia; with fungus Botrytis cinerea in Sauternes region of Bordeaux to create world’s longest-lived unfortified wines. Continue reading →

Cabernet Franc is an important grape variety for a variety of reasons: its progeny, its role as a ubiquitous blending grape, as insurance, and—finally—as a splendid lead grape in its own right.
In 1997, Cal Davis wine wizards proved Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc were parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, arguably world’s premier red grape. Stop there and Cab Franc is venerated in viniculture. Continue reading →

Pinot Gris–Pinot Grigio. Same grape, often not same wine. Continue reading →

Barbera is a grape similar to Longfellow’s girl with the curl. When it is good, it is very good indeed. And when it is bad, it is horrid. Continue reading →

Great debates of Western Civilization: boxers or briefs, Ginger or Mary Ann, Rolling Stones or Beetles? Among oenophiles: Bordeaux or Burgundy? Continue reading →

Nebbiolo is Italy’s great black grape, source of some of the longest-lived Italian wines—Barolo and Barbaresco—and many people do not have the foggiest idea about the grape, what kind of wine the grape makes, or even where it is from. Continue reading →

Mourvèdre may be the most famous grape you don’t know about and certainly is among more intimidating to pronounce: Moor VAY druh. Continue reading →

Chenin Blanc is among world’s most planted, most versatile, most delicious wine grapes, and one you probably only experienced at its worst. Continue reading →

Last week, Beaujolais problems. This week, reasons to drink this wine and suggestions which to buy. Continue reading →

Beaujolais is wine region where French label laws, clever marketing, and Californiated confusion collided to sour people on great value. Continue reading →